Improvement in primed metallic catridges



E. K. ROOT.

Cauflaridge. No. 44,660. Patented Oct. 11, 1864.

I ward each other.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

E. K. ROOT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRIME D METALLIC CATRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,660, dated October11, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, E. K. ROOT, of Hartford,of Hartford county, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Cartridges; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to that kind of cartridge in which the charge ofpowder and the percussion powder or fulminate are inclosed within ametallic case, and in which the fulminate is exploded by concussionbetween two surfaces, which are made to approach each other inside ofthe case or shell of the cartridge.

Several modes of constructing this kind of cartridge have been suggestedprevious to my said invention, among which I may mention, that whichinvolves the use of a wire or rod, arranged diametrically in the case ofthe cartridge, and having the fulminate located between its end and theinternal surface of the case, and there exploded by concussion betweenthe end of the said cross wire or rod and the cylindrical case, thesetwo surfaces rod or wire, a solid block of metal is arranged within thecylindrical case, between the periphery of which and the internalsurface of the case the fulminate is pinched and exploded by means ofthe hammer striking against the exterior of the case and forcing itssurface and that of the inclosed block to- (This kind of cartridge isshown and described in an application filed by me some time ago.)

But in both of these methods of constructing a metallic cartridgewithout any flange,

having the fulminate so arranged within the case as to be pinched (andthus exploded) between the surfaces of the shell and an independentpiece, which surfaces approach each other in a direction aboutcorresponding to the line of a diameter of the case, various objectionsand defects exist, to overcome which, and afford a simple, moreeffective, and more desirable metallic cartridge, are the obiects of mypresent invention; which consists in the employment within the case ofthe cartridge,

of a split block, so made that its several solid portions or sectionsmay be forced toward and against each other, to compress and explodefulminate placed between the adjacent surfaces of such sections or solidportions of such block, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe the construction and operation of one of my improvedcartridges, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is an elevation of one of my improvedcartridges. Fig. 2 is across-section at the line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionat the line y 3 Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of thecollapsible fulminate-block removed from the cartridge. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of another form of split block; and Fig. 6 is aperspectiveview of still another form of split block.

A is the metal case of the cartridge, which is made in the form of aplain cylinder, with a head or closed end at the rear, and having aball, B, inserted in the usual manner in its open and forward end. C isa metal block or piece, which is located within the case A, at its rearend, and which is made to contain the fulminate in a manner to bepresently explained. The interior of the case A is completely filled,except the space occupied by the piece C, with powder in the usual way.I have indicated the space occupied by the powder in the drawing by ablue tint, and have exaggerated the size of the cartridge over that usedin an ordinary gun or pistol, for the purpose of more distinctly showingthe forms of the several parts.

The metallic piece C,'which may be denominated a collapsiblefulminate-block, should he made of a suitable alloy or composition ofmetals to possess sufficient hardness and at the same time withstand anychemical effect which the fulminate might exert upon it, and shouldcorrespond in its contour or perimeter to the interior of the shell orcase A. This block 0 is nearly severed into four segments, (see Figs. 2and 4,) by two diametrical slots cut across one of its flat surfaces orfaces, as clearly shown, and these slots are filled with fulminate ordetonating powder, as indicated by a red tint'in the drawings. The piece0 is slotted in such manner that the stock left at the bottoms of theslots is just sufficient to hold the sections m m, &c., together intheir proper relative positions during the manipulations of charging theslots or crevices between said sections with fulminate and inserting theblock into the rear end of the case A, and the stock left is, at thesame time, so little as to admit of the portionsm m m m being easily andcompletely compressed together, for the purpose of pinching orcompressing the fulminate between their adjacent surfaces, to explodeit, in a manner to be presently explained.

The operation of a cartridge thus made may be thus explained: Thecartridge being inserted into the chamber of a fire-arm, where it is tobe exploded, the outer surface of the case A is struck by the hammer ofthe arm about in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, at anypoint around the shell A not too far from its base, whereby the thinmetallic case A is forced slightly inward, or toward the axis of thecartridge, carrying with it the portion or portions of the piece 0 whichhappen to be nearest the point struck, and causing the fulminate to besuddenly crushed or compressed between the adjacent surface of' the saidpiece and the other opposite sections or portions of block 0.

It will be seen that if the blockU have as many as three cuts or slotsradiating from its center. It cannot be struck anywhere on its peripherywithout causing the sections or some of them to be crushed together, atsome point, sufficiently to explode the fulminate contained in the slotsor crevices between them. And it will be understood that whereever thefulminate is ignited by the concussion between any two or more adjacentsurfaces of the sections 111. m m m, the ignition will be.

always conveyed to the rear end of the charge of powder and to thecenter of the base of the charge.

I have only proposed that the sections m m m m be held togother, asshown, because I deem it preferable, affording as it does a better op-vportunity to readily prepare the sections with the thin layersoffulminate before inserting them into the case A.

At Fig. 5 I have shown the block (3 cut or slotted more frequently thanthat shown in the preceding figures, or so as to form a greater numberof sections, 12 n n n n n. This form of block or sections will, ofcourse, take more fulminate to fill its grooves than that shown at Fig.4, but may be'deemed more desirable p rhaps, on account of affordingmore opportunities for the concussion of the adjacent sides of sections.

At Fig. 6 I have shown another form of block, 0 which is in the shape ofan annular ring, or circular disk with the center portion out out,having slots 1 2 3 4 cut across its fiat face and nearly through it, asclearly shown. The operation of this form of block or sections, whenplaced in the case A and forced together, as explained of the otherform, is similar to that of the others already described, except that inthis lastrnamed form of sections the fulminate when ignited willcommunicate fire to the powder filled into the hollow space or portions. But this form possesses over the others the advantage of requiringless fulminate than the others require, its fulminate spaces 1 2 3 4 notbeing so long, while at the same time it is as effective in everyrespect.

One of the great advantages of my new cartridge over one in which thefulminate is put on the periphery of a rigid disk is the great facilityand little danger with which the block may be prepared with thefulminate and inserted within the case, and that in such manner as tocompletely fill the bore of the case A, which is of great importance,since, if the fulminate and all the surfaces between which it isconfined be in perfect contact, the slightest depression of the case Awill effect the certain explosion of the fulminate.

Another advantage to be ascribed to my improved mode of priming thecartridge is the economy of fulminate, for sincethe space of threeradial slots is sufficient, and their surface is only about one-halfthat of the entire circumference, it follows that a great saving iseifected over the method of putting the fulminate over the entirecircumference of the disk.

Having fully explained my invention, and not wishing to limit myself toany peculiar form of the block O, or combination of mova- In lieu of theblock 0, slotted as described, several separate and distinct blocks,with the fulminate placed or distributed between their adjacent surfacesor edges, may be employed.'

ble sections,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- The employment within the case of the cartridge of movable sectionsof solid material having fulminate confined, or arranged between theiradjacent surfaces or edges, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hercuntoset my hand and affixed my seal this3d day of May, 1864.

E. K. ROOT. I pt. s.]

Witnesses:

GEORGE G. SILL, B. D. HEEBLAND.

